Foot toboggan



March 10. 1925. 1,529,466

F. L. CURFMAN FOOT TOBOGGAN Filed Dec. 4. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 10. 1925. 1,529,466

F. L. CURFMAN FOOT TOBOGGAN Filed Dec. 4. 1923. 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l 'rederz'ez l. ('(liffil/(l 71/ MW Sm: new

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Patented Mar. 10, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

room TOIBOGGAN.

Application filed December 4, 1923. Serial No. 678,461.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK L. CURF- MAN, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Maryville, county of Nodaway, State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in and Relating to Foot Toboggans, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in foot toboggans; and the nature and objects of the invention will be readily recognized and understood by those skilled in the art to which it relates in the light of the following explanation and detailed description of the accompanying drawings illustrating what I at present consider to be the preferred embodiments or mechanical expressions of the invention from among various other forms, arrangements, combinations and constructions of which the invention is capable within the spirit and scope thereof.

One of the primary objects of the invention is to provide a foot toboggan particularly adapted for use in sliding and coasting on thin or relatively shallow ice and snow, or over relatively soft surfaces such as presented by snow, which is so formed and designed as to present a minimum of contact surface when used on ice or sleet, and in which lateral or side slippage is materially reduced and practically eliminated.

Another object of the invention is to pro.- vide a foot toboggan having the operating or engaging face thereof designed to present a minimum of engaging surface when used on ice or sleet, and which engaging surface is so formed as to prevent the same cutting through or piercing relatively thin ice or sleet and contacting with a surface therebeneath.

Another object of the invention is to provide a foot toboggan having the operating or engaging side or face thereof formed with a series of spaced longitudinally extending ribs or corrugations thereon having smooth rounded outer side or edge portions which will engage and contact with an ice or sleet surface without cutting therethrough and which will further function as guiding elements and reduce side or lateral slippage of the toboggan in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a foot toboggan for sliding and coasting on ice; snow and such like, formed of a sheet or strip of material having a relatively fiat longitudinally corrugated portion adapted to be strapped or otherwise fastened on the foot of a wearer and so formed that the corrugations stiffen and strengthen the same, with the corrugations on the upper side providing a foot engaging surface and those on the under or operating side forming a series of spaced longitudinally disposed sliding surface engaging members which will function as guiding elements and reduce lateral or side slippage of the tobog- A further object of the invention is to provide as a new article of manufacture a substantially one-piece sheet metal, or other sheet material, foot toboggan adapted to be fastened to the foot for sliding or coasting, which can be cheaply and efliciently stamped, pressed or otherwise suitably formed from sheet material.

A further object of the invention is to provide a foot toboggan for sliding and coasting on ice, snow and such like, a pair of which are adapted to be fastened to the feet of a wearer, which is so designed that a wearer can walk with a pair without material interference or discomfort, and without injury to a surface with which the toboggans may contact. I

With the foregoing and various other obj cats and results in view, which other objects and results will be readily apparent to those skilled in or familiar with this art from the following description, the invention consists in certain novel features in construction and in arrangements and combinations of elements, as will be more fully and particularly referred to and specified hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a foot toboggan embodying the invention.

Fig. 2, is a top plan view of the toboggan of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3, is a detail fragmentary view in section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4, is a view in bottom plan of the rear or heel portion of the sliding or operating surface of the toboggan. 4

Fig. 5, is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6, is a detail fragmentary view in side elevation of a modified form of the front curved end of a toboggan.

Fig. 7, is a side elevation of a modified form of a toboggan of the invention.

Fi 8, is' a detail section through a modified toboggan, and heel fastening means.

Fig. 9, is a rear elevation of the form of the invention of Fig. 8.

According to the illustrated embodiments and mechanical adaptations of the invention, which are disclosed and described herewith urely by way of example and not of limitation for purposes of explaining the principles involved and various features of and results obtained by the invention, a foot toboggan embodies and is formed from a relatively flat elongated strip or length of suitable sheet material 10, such as relatively thin sheet steel or the like, of a length and width to be attached in position over and covering the bottom of a shoe (foot) to present on the outer or under side thereof a relatively wide substantially fiat shdmg and coasting surface. This strip or length of sheet material 10 is'rounded or curved at the rear or heel end thereof and is formed with the vertically disposed heel receiving the heel of a shoe are attached, as will be explained hereinafter. The forward or nose end of the strip 10 is bent and curved upwardly and extended a distance rearwardly thereabove to form the foot protecting and toe receiving portion Mat the forward or advancing end of the toboggan. Opposite side vertically disposed and alined strap attaching ears or lugs 15 are formed on the strip 10 at the forward end thereof a distance rearwardly from the curved front end ortion 14 of the toboggan to receive suitable straps or other securing means for fastening the forward end of a toboggan to a shoe, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

With the body of the toboggan formed in I the foregoing manner from the relatively thin substantiall stri flat single or one-piece tom of a shoe (not shown), with the lower or under face thereof providing the sliding and coasting surface and the upper face providiug the shoe bottom or sole receiving form of rear or heel receiving end of a of the or blank 0 sheet material 10, an ex ten ed relatively wide flat length or base sliding or coasting on hard surfaces such as ice, and to provide a contact surface which will not readily cut through or pierce 'thin or shallow ice and snow, and which will further function to guide the toboggan and reduce side slippage to a minimum.

In the illustrated examples of one possible mechanical expression of a sliding or operating surface embodying the principles and features of the invention, the extended flat base 16 is longitudinally corrugated from the rear end thereof at the heel receiving flange 11 to the forward end thereof at the start of the curved or bent portion'14, to provide a series of substantially parallel longitudinally disposed alternate convex ribs or corrugationsl7 and concave depressions or grooves 18 throughout the substantial length of the flat under or operating face of the toboggan. Similarly,- a series of corrugations 19 are presented on the upper shoe bottom engaging surface of the base 16 of the toboggan. 'The spaced ribs or corrugations 17-extending longitudinally of the operating face of the toboggan are smooth convex and rounded surfaces which preferably taper 'off or merge at their forward ends into the forward curved or bent end 14 of the toboggan at or above the plane of the base portion 16, and which terminate and are cut off abruptly at the rear ends thereof to form the vertically disposed ends 17 at the curved rear or heel end of the toboggan, as will be clear by ref-, erence to the accompanying drawings. These ribs or corrugations 17 on the operating face of the toboggan thus form the major contact surface thereof in sliding or coasting over hard surfaces such as ice, with a material reduction in the contact surface presented with respect to the width of the base 16. Further, the corrugations of the extended substantially flat base 16 formed relatively thin sheet material strengthen and stiffen the base and maintain the same against bending or twisting in use. If desired or found expedient the corrugations can be continued in the rearwardly curved front end 14 of the toboggan to stiffen and strengthen the same, as will be apparent.

The foot toboggan so formed is provided with suitable means for attaching and securing the same in position on and to a shoe (foot), and in the embodiment of the invention disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2, such means embodies a piece of leather or other suitable material 20 secured at the lower the flange 11 at the rear or heel end of the toboggan, ;by rivets or the like 21. The leather piece 20 in mounted position on the toboggan thus forms a vertically extending curved portion to receive the heel or rear end of a shoe, and at its upper opposite forward ends is formed to provide a strap 22 and buckle 23, respectively, for securing the toboggan onto the heel or rear portion of a shoe, the strap-22 adapted to extend over and across the shoe in the usual manner well understood in this art. To secure the forward or toe portion of the toboggan to a shoe, a strap or the like 24 is secured at one end to one of the forward lugs or carscl5, and the opposite'ear 15' is providedwith a short strap and buckle 25 adapted to receive the free end of the attaching strap 24 when the latter is in position extending over and across the toe or forward portion of a shoe. I

In Fig. 7 of the drawings a modified con struction of the invention is disclosed particularly adapted for use when it is desired to form the toboggan from thin-sheet material which may not develop sufiicient strength and rigidity in the base portion 16 of the toboggan from the corrugations thereof, as hereinbefore described. This form of the invention provides opposite side stiffening flanges 26, struck up or otherwise suitably formed along and throughout the length of the base portion 16 and extending vertically therefrom. In the illustrated example these stiffening flanges 26 are continuations of the heel receiving flange 11 at the rear end' of the toboggan, and extend forwardly to and terminate at the curved front portion 14 of the toboggan. However, if desired to stiffen and strengthen the forwardcurved portion 14 of the toboggan, the

side stiffening flanges 26 can be extended and continued on and around the opposite sides of this curved portion to form the stiffening flanges 27 disclosed in Fig. 6 of the accompanying drawings By the use of such stiffening flanges in connection with the stiffening and strengthening from the corrugations in the base 16, a relatively thin sheet material can be utilized to form the toboggan having the requisite strength and rigidity.

Another possible construction and forms.

tion of the rear or heel receiving end of the toboggan is illustrated in Figs. 8-and 9 of the accompanying drawings. In this form of the invention the use of the leather heel piece 20 is done away with by extending the heel receiving flange upwardly the necessary distance to provide the integral curved heel plate 20. Any suitable or desired attaching strap 22' is mounted on the plate 20' for securing the rear end of the toboggan to a shoe in the usual manner. In the example illustrated, this attaching strap 22 is secured wardly over the base.

in position on the heel plate by passing the same through a stra retaining member 12',

struck or stamped out from the body of the lower or under side of the base 16 'of the gated formation. The ribs or corrugations 17 are smooth, convex or rounded surfaces with the result that in sliding or coasting over thin or shallow ice, sleet or snow, they will not cut therethrough and contact with the surface therebeneath. The provision of the spaced longitudinally disposed ribs or corrugations 17 on the sliding and coasting surface of the' toboggan reduces lateral or side slippage, particularly in use on relatively soft surfaces such as presented by snow, so that the toboggan is in effect guided or maintained on the desired course in operation. The guiding effect of the ribs 17 is materially aided by the abrupt termination thereof at the rear or heel portion to form the ends 17 which are thus disposed at the portion of the toboggan receiving the greatest weight and tend to be maintained in contact with a surface over which sliding by the forward or toe end of the toboggan rocking or swinging upward.

The upwardly curved forward end 14 of the toboggan provides primarily a forward inclined under surface 14 which functions to press down and form a harder surface for the toboggan to slide over when coasting on snow, and secondarily forms a guard or protection for. the shoe or foot of the wearer to prevent snow from being thrown upwardly over the toboggan. The forward end portion of the toboggan may take the form as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1, in which the forward portion 14: is bent upwardly from the plane of the base 16 to present a more gradual sloping or inclined under surface 14, and is not bent and extended rear- This form presents less possibility. of interference from the forward ends of the toboggans in use, than with the form presented" by the rearwardly bent portion 14. I

The corrugations 19 on the upper face of the toboggan base 16 form a shoe engaging surface which will tend to prevent sli page of the shoe thereon and provide an e cient shoe gripping face. However, attention is directed to the fact that it is not desired to liniit all features of the invention to the provision of a corrugated upper or shoe engaging surface, as the invention contemplates and includes the formation of a foot ioboggan having a smooth or otherwise formed surface with the longitudinally ribbed or corrugated sliding surfaces. Vvhere the tohogganis stamped or otherwise formed from relatively thin sheet material the base portion 16 is materially strengthened and stiffened by the corrugation thereof in the manner disclosed in the drawings to provide the upper corrugated shoe engaging surface and the correspondingly corrugated lower sliding or operating surface.

From the foregoing it is seen that a foot t-oboggan of simple construction is provided which can be readily and cheaply formed from a substantially one-piece blank of sheet material. With the toboggan of the invention presenting the relatively wlde substantially flat sliding or operating surface, a wearer with a pair attached can readily walk to and from a sliding or coasting surface without material hindrance or interference, and without injury to any surface over which he may walk, due to the rounded smooth surfaces presented by the ribs or corrugations 17.

It is further evident that various changes, variations, substitutions and modifications might be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and hence I do not wish to limit myself to the exact and specific disclosures hereof.

Desiring to protect my invention in the broadest manner legally possible, what I claim is:

1. A foot toboggan, embodying a. substantially flat longitudinally corrugated sliding surface providing a series of convex ribs thereon.

2. A foot toboggan, embodying a sliding surface formed with a series of longitudinally disposed convex ribs thereon and terminating at the rear portion of said surface to present vertically disposed end faces.

3. A foot toboggan, embodying a base series of spaced longitudinally disposed convex ribs on said sliding surface.

5. As a new article of manufacture, a sheet metal foot toboggan, formed from a single blank of substantially flat sheet metal to provide a base portion having a longitudinally corrugated sliding surface.

6. As a new article of manufacture, a foot toboggan formed from sheet metal to provide a substantially flat comparatively wide base portion formed with a heel receiving portion at the rear end and upwardly bent at the forward end to form a foot protecting portion, and the said base portion longitudinally corrugated topresent a sliding surface having a series of spaced convex ribs thereon.

attaching strap at the forward port-ion of i said base, and the said base portion longitudinally corrugated.

8. As a new article of manufacture, asheet metal foot toboggan having a substantially flat, relatively wide longitudinally corrugated base portion with the upper face thereof forming a non-slip foot engaging surface, and the lower face providing a sliding surface having a series of spaced ribs thereon.

9. As a new article of manufacture, a sheet metal foot toboggan having a substan tiall flat, relatively wide base portion longitudinally corrugated, and opposite side stiffening flanges formed from said base portion.

Signed at Maryville, day of Dec, 1923.

FREDERICK L. (TURFMAN. 

